Scottish Fiddle Orchestra to Perth

May 20 2011 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

TWO highly-acclaimed soloists top the programme for the Ruthven Parish Festival 2011 (June 10-12).

For more than 20 years, Ruthven Parish Festival has been enticing some of the UK’s best classical musicians and singers to its stunning location on the banks of the River Isla, about halfway between Kirriemuir and Blairgowrie – and 2011 is no exception.

“This year, two very highly-acclaimed soloists will be performing at Ruthven Parish Festival,” said Evelyn Hood, a member of Ruthven Festival management committee. “For two concerts of delightful classical music, the Ruthven Festival Musicians will be joined by tenor Mark Wilde, who is in demand across the UK and Europe, and Christopher Gough, a top French Horn player who is fast gaining a reputation as a first-class composer.”

The opening concert of Ruthven Parish Festival 2011 is the ‘Summer Serenade’ on the evening of Friday, June 10. This will feature a programme of music by Albinoni, Finzi, Benjamin Britten and Dag Wiren by the Ruthven Festival Musicians, led by Audrey Mattner and conducted by Howard Duthie.

“One of the undoubted highlights of this concert will be the performance of Benjamin Britten’s Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings,” revealed Evelyn. “This will showcase perfectly Mark Wilde’s wonderful voice, the horn-playing expertise of Christopher Gough and the talents of the string section of the Ruthven Festival Musicians.”

The evening will also include the premiere of a new work for horn and strings by Christopher Gough which he composed specifically for the Ruthven Festival, and will conclude with a finger-buffet supper.

On Saturday, June 11, Mark Wilde, accompanied by Alan Jacques, will host a masterclass for singers in Ruthven Church, acclaimed for its near-perfect acoustics. As well as providing an opportunity for local singers to receive personal advice from one of the country’s top opera singers, Evelyn explained that guests are welcome to come along and listen to the singers participating in the masterclass.

On Sunday, June 12, the Festival’s second concert – ‘Midsummer Sunday’ – the Ruthven Festival Musicians, led by Audrey Mattner and conducted by Alan Young, will perform a blend of music, including works by Respighi, Schubert and Mendelssohn. In addition, Mark Wilde will sing two duets with Ruthven Parish Festival favourite, soprano Alison McDonald, while Christopher Gough will perform a Mozart Horn Concerto.

“Our Sunday afternoon concert will end with the St Paul’s Suite by Gustav Holst, a group of tunes which are guaranteed to set everyone off singing as they retire to the marquee for strawberries and cream,” said Evelyn.

For more information about all Ruthven Parish Festival events, or to reserve programmes for the concerts, call 01828 632558 or email ruthvenfestival@tiscali.co.uk.